Dive Sites in New Mexico - Scuba Diving at its Best!

Diving Overview for New Mexico

New Mexico, although landlocked, has some of amazing dive sites ranging from stunning lakes to reservoirs and rivers. It has 34 diverse State Parks, consisting of lakes, canyons, forests, historical sites and even dinosaur tracks to explore.

The climate of New Mexico is highly arid and its territory is mostly covered by mountains, high plains, and desert. During the summer months, daytime temperatures can often exceed 100 °F (38 °C) at elevations below 5,000 feet, but the average high temperature in July can range from 90 °F (32 °C) to the upper 78°F (29°C) depending on your elevation. A lot of local diving is at altitude.

Santa Rosa is the most popular scuba diving attraction in New Mexico and is home to the famous geological phenomenon known as the 'Blue Hole'. This natural, bell-shaped pool is 80 feet deep and has astonishing clarity and a constant water temperature of 64°F (18°C).

There are several State Parks full of Lakes that are perfect for scuba diving. Navajo Reservoir is in Navajo Lake State Park, is 35 miles long and has over 250 miles of shoreline. Bottomless Lakes State Park has several lakes that are actually water-filled sink holes -despite what the old cowboys thought, the lakes are no more than 90 feet deep.

Some areas of New Mexico (including the Blue Hole) require a permit for diving -these are easily obtainable from your Dive Centre. Note that most dive sites are at high altitude so use the right tables and set your dive computers accordingly!

Videos of New Mexico